Mumbai, Nov 14 (PTI) Diabetes is increasingly emerging as a health concern among younger individuals, with a growing number being

Mumbai, Nov 14 (PTI) Diabetes is increasingly emerging as a health concern among younger individuals, with a growing number being

Mumbai, Nov 14 (PTI) Diabetes is increasingly emerging as a health concern among younger individuals, with a growing number being

Mumbai, Nov 14 (PTI) Diabetes is increasingly emerging as a health concern among younger individuals, with a growing number being diagnosed with the condition even before showing any noticeable symptoms, a study said on Saturday.

    Underscoring the importance of routine health check-ups, it said early detection must be complemented by lifestyle changes, with a focus on long working hours, physical inactivity, stress and poor eating habits.

    The study by Mumbai-based Zandra Healthcare compared patient data from March 2015 to March 2020 (pre-pandemic) and April 2020 to April 2025 (post-pandemic).

    The analysis covered 7,274 patients and 45,083 visits during the pre-COVID period and compared the figures with the post-pandemic period, recording 8,712 patients and 53,927 visits.

    “The increasing number of younger individuals being diagnosed with diabetes is a concern, particularly because many of them may not experience any symptoms in the early stages. It is encouraging to see that more people are opting for preventive health check-ups and getting screened proactively,” said Dr Rajiv Kovil, a diabetes and obesity specialist at the company.

    However, early detection must be complemented by consistent lifestyle changes, with greater attention to factors such as long working hours, physical inactivity, stress and unhealthy eating habits, he said.

    Workplaces should introduce regular health screening and wellness initiatives, while community-level awareness programmes must encourage people to understand their risk and seek timely medical advice, said Dr Kovil.

    As per the study, men accounted for nearly 64 per cent of cases before the pandemic, while women made up the remaining share. In the post-pandemic period, the proportion of male patients declined to 58 per cent (5,053 patients), indicating a more balanced gender distribution.

    The proportion of newly diagnosed patients, with a diabetes history of three years or less, increased from 24 per cent (1,746 patients) before the pandemic to 38 per cent (3,311 patients) after it, the study said.

    Another significant change was the way diabetes was detected. Before COVID-19, more than 65 per cent of patients were diagnosed after experiencing symptoms, it said.

    In contrast, over 80 per cent of patients in the post-pandemic period were identified through proactive screening, often without experiencing noticeable symptoms, reflecting the growing awareness and the increasing importance of routine health check-ups, it said.

    The study also showed that lifestyle changes have emerged as an important concern.

    Before the pandemic, approximately 20 per cent (1,451) of patients reported frequent work-related travel and high stress levels. In the post-pandemic period, over 90 per cent (7,844) reported factors such as long working hours, remote working, increased consumption of outside food and sustained workplace stress.

    Sedentary routines, irregular eating habits and prolonged stress may be contributing to the growing diabetes burden among younger working professionals, it added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)